Book 1 Chapter 898

898.

The pier for the Lumaria City ferry that travels to and from Lumern.

As the ferry docked, Leo disembarked with light steps.

Elena followed him with an impassive expression.

Leo glanced back at Elena, burst into laughter, and headed for Lumaria City Hall.

Elena followed him wordlessly.

As they walked down the street, many people recognized them and struck up conversations.

The shop owner, who was displaying and selling fruit at his stall, smiled brightly and handed Leo two apples, saying,

"Your Majesty. The apples are excellent this year. Please try one."

"Thank you."

Leo was no longer just a student of Lumern.

He had been recognized for his great deeds and ascended to the ranks of heroes, and had also ascended to the throne of a nation.

As such, the attitude of the people of Lumaria towards Leo tended to be considerably more cautious compared to before.

Of course, that didn't mean they were afraid of Leo.

Leo always smiled kindly when interacting with people.

Entering the main street, Leo ate one of the apples the fruit vendor had given him and offered the other to Elena.

Elena, receiving it, said,

"I've felt this for a while, but you're very kind to people?"

"Because they're kind to me first."

"With your personality, Leo, I thought you'd be prickly no matter how others treated you?"

"There were times like that."

Elena could easily guess that those times were his past life.

After a moment's thought, Elena asked,

"Why aren't you like that anymore? Are you carrying the world on your shoulders alone?"

"It's not for that reason."

Leo replied calmly.

"I don't think I'm carrying the world alone."

Compared to Lisina of 5000 years ago, the burden Leo carried was not that heavy.

There was no hope 5000 years ago.

Moreover, there were many who sought to maintain the order of the world, so it wasn't as if he carried it alone.

Of course, he did carry the burden of being the only one who could achieve the complete subjugation of Erebus.

'It does make my shoulders quite stiff.'

Remembering that fact, Leo chuckled and patted his shoulders with his fists.

Seeing that, Elena said petulantly,

"You're like an old man."

"Because I am an old man."

"Hmph."

Leo, unbothered by Elena's aloof attitude, said,

"At first, it was just imitation of them."

"The great heroes?"

Leo nodded.

"Unlike me, they were always kind to people."

Leo smiled broadly.

"After I was revived, I felt a little regret. Why did I treat people who approached me so brusquely back then?"

Of course, there were reasons.

He had lost many people, so much so that he was called the surviving hero.

As such, he became reluctant to get close to anyone.

He didn't care what others thought of him.

It was just that now, he realized how precious the countless small everyday moments of his past life were.

'Perhaps that's why I longed for the past in Shilod's illusion.'

"So, I decided to be as friendly to those who are friendly to me."

Leo crunched into the apple.

As Elena was about to speak, seeing Leo like that.

"Who is this? Those damned juniors who tormented their senior terribly in their later years?"

The person who spoke was someone Leo and Elena knew well.

Hark Liguard.

A graduate of Lumern last year and the former student council president who had been overworked by Leo until the day of his graduation.

"It's been a while, Hark senior."

Leo said with a smile.

"I was sad I couldn't see you at the coronation."

"I've been busy with various things since graduating."

Hark sighed and replied, looking at Leo, who greeted him warmly.

"I heard your exploits on the front lines against Tartarus were amazing."

"It's nothing compared to you. You also subjugated another piece of Erebus, didn't you?"

"It just happened."

"It seems you're on the verge of saving the world by chance."

Hark's words made Leo burst into laughter.

"By the way, why is she in such a bad mood again?"

Hark scowled, looking at Elena, who was staring intently at him.

As a member of Lumern's three great families, they had known each other since childhood.

However, their relationship was very bad when they attended Lumern together.

But thanks to being tormented by Leo, their relationship had improved to the point of being called nemeses.

"Why are you here, Hark senior?"

"This is my home, didn't you forget?"

Hark said, pointing behind him with his finger.

The Lumern City Hall.

A historic building dating back 3000 years.

And for the past 3000 years, the Liguard family had inherited the position of mayor of Lumaria City.

As such, the city hall was also Hark's home.

"Yes. I know well, so please go now."

"Don't be so cold. I want to talk with Leo for a while."

Hark shrugged his shoulders.

"Leo, chase him away."

Elena said irritably, and Leo shrugged his shoulders.

"It would be too cold to do that after tormenting me so much before graduation."

"You actually have a conscience? I thought you didn't have any."

Leo let out a hollow laugh at Hark's admiration.

Hark, who had inserted himself between the two, began talking with Leo.

"I saw the report you submitted during your mission… you said there were new legion commanders?"

"Yes."

"What kind of guys are they? They were treated as top-secret documents, so I couldn't see the details."

Hark was seriously trying to grasp the current strength of Tartarus.

As the heir to Liguard, Hark had led his family's knights and lived on the battlefield.

He was inherently lazy and laid-back, but he was not the type to neglect his duties.

In fact, during his fifth year, even while suffering from sleep deprivation due to Leo's exploitation, he performed his given tasks perfectly.

After graduation, his sense of responsibility to protect his allies on the battlefield as a knight also grew stronger.

Elena watched Leo and Hark talking with a sullen expression from a short distance behind.

'The atmosphere was good just a moment ago.'

It wasn't a bad timing to bring up the dance party.

But at that moment, Hark had appeared.

Just then.

"You've arrived just in time."

Someone walked over from a distance.

Albi, a professor at Lumern and a member of the Zerion family.

"Elena, the head of the family is looking for you."

"My father?"

Elena had no choice but to follow Albi.

Watching her go, Hark chuckled.

"Why are you laughing?"

"No. It felt like Elena was about to say something to you. I bet she was going to ask you to go to the dance party together."

"You know everything?"

"Given our family's nature, we hear about most things."

Hark shrugged his shoulders.

"Anyway, I spoke up intentionally to interrupt, and the timing was good."

"You should have a kind heart."

"Considering how much I suffered because of that guy during my school days, this is just a small thing."

'He has many enemies.'

Leo shook his head inwardly.

'Well, considering how wild I was in my hooligan days, it's natural to have many enemies?'

Recalling Elena from before, Leo said,

"By the way, Hark senior."

"Why?"

"You're unemployed now, aren't you?"

"What have you been listening to? I told you I was on the front lines against Tartarus for the past six months!"

"That's helping with family matters, not working."

"No. I'm still the heir to my family."

"Are you replacing or assisting the Liguard patriarch?"

"No."

"Then, with your personality, aren't you on the front lines to sleep a lot? Because you can sleep legally there."

Hark's mana specialty is "Accumulation."

It's a power that accumulates mana through sleep and releases it all at once.

However, mana accumulation isn't infinite.

Once the vessel is full, no matter how much you sleep, it's useless.

Ultimately, Hark continued to sleep simply because he liked sleeping.

"Someone who finishes their family chores quickly and sleeps all day, wouldn't that normally be called unemployed?"

Hark pressed his temples.

It was close to sophistry, but it wasn't entirely wrong.

"So, what is it you want to say?"

"Would you like to come to our kingdom? We'll give you good compensation."

At those words, Hark replied with genuine seriousness.

"I absolutely refuse."

Hark had no desire to be tormented by Leo again.

"And do you think my father would send his heir somewhere else?"

"Wouldn't he send me if you said you wanted to go?"

"So why would I do that?"

Hark smiled coldly.

"There's no way I'll work under you again, so wake up from your dream."

***

The student council president of Lumern is not simply the pinnacle of students.

It is a position with the authority to move Lumern as a whole.

They handle school schedules and budget allocation, and Lumern's budget is approved by the board of directors.

Naturally, meetings between the student council president and the board of directors are held regularly.

However, today's meeting was a little special.

It was because the chairman himself was attending the meeting.

Until now, Elena, the acting chairman, had been leading the meetings.

As they entered the meeting room, Alteck Zerion, the Infinity Speller, was seated at the head of the table.

Beside him sat Elena and Albi, to his left and right.

Direct descendants of the Zerion family.

These were the three people who effectively led the Zerion family now.

"It's been a while, student Leo."

"It's been a while, Chairman. Your face looks much better."

Leo replied to Alteck, who greeted him first, and Elena burst into laughter.

"Pfft! It's gotten worse."

Alteck's cold gaze turned to Elena.

Elena, as if nothing had happened, straightened her back with an impassive expression.

Alteck, who sighed, said,

"First, I want to express my gratitude. Thanks to you subjugating a piece of Erebus, Tartarus's movements have slowed. That allowed me to take some time and return to Lumaria City."

"I didn't do it alone."

"You're humble. I wish someone would learn from you."

Alteck muttered, glancing at Elena, who smiled brightly.

"Let's begin the meeting first."

Since there were regular meetings, if there were no special circumstances, the meetings didn't take long.

After the meeting.

The door opened, and a middle-aged man entered.

He was a man of sturdy build, the ruler of Lumaria, Dejean Liguard.

"It's been a while for a meeting, and it ended so quickly."

"There was nothing special."

"Indeed."

Dejean nodded and sat next to Alteck.

"Zerion Family Head, I have something serious to discuss."

"What is it?"

"Elena. Have you decided to help with family matters after graduation?"

Dejean asked with a very serious expression.

Alteck looked puzzled at the question.

Elena is the heir to Zerion.

In common perception, it's natural to help with family matters and fulfill heir duties after graduation.

Of course, Elena is different from ordinary people.

She is already in the completion stage as an heir.

Having served as acting head since childhood, it wouldn't be strange for her to become head immediately.

However, the problem was her wicked disposition.

Alteck had a fallback regarding that.

"It seems she has decided on her own place of employment."

"Really?"

Dejean's eyes widened.

And looking at Elena, he said,

"You always caused Zerion Family Head trouble, but you've matured. You're better than my damned son."

At those words, Elena smiled prettily.

"Do you know where she's working?"

Dejean asked cautiously.

Alteck then looked at Leo.

"Student Leo."

"Yes."

"No returns are allowed."

Alteck's serious words made Leo burst into laughter unintentionally.

Hearing that conversation, Dejean's eyes widened, and he looked at Leo, asking,

"Elena has decided to get a job in the Archi Kingdom?"

"Yes."

"Oh…"

Dejean looked at Alteck with envy.

Dejean was well aware of how much Leo overworked the student council.

He also knew that Leo was strengthening himself with the goal of completely subjugating Erebus.

His unruly son, who was embarrassing in every way, tried to live comfortably, while the heir of Zerion, a member of Lumern's three great families, was willing to do difficult work.

After talking with Alteck, Dejean fell into deep thought.

And when the meeting concluded and it was time for Leo and Elena to return to Lumern, he separately requested an interview with Leo.

"What is it?"

Leo asked when he arrived at the mayor's office, and Dejean said,

"Student Leo. I've always thought highly of you."

Saying that, Dejean took out an envelope from his pocket and tried to put it in Leo's pocket.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Hey, put it in, put it in. It's like pocket money. Buy something delicious with Elena on your way, or buy something delicious for your hardworking student council friends."

As Leo refused, Dejean forcibly put the envelope into Leo's pocket and lowered his voice.

"Actually, I have a small favor to ask."

"What is it?"

"My son, you know, he likes to sleep, but he's very capable, isn't he? You know that too, right?"

"Yes."

"So, I was hoping… student Leo… no, Your Majesty King Archi's country… that he could work there."

Dejean said with a friendly smile.

"I didn't say it in front of Family Head Alteck, but after Elena met you, she stopped being a hooligan and became a good student, didn't she?"

Dejean said with a serious expression.

"Can't you make my son into a good person too? You can work him hard for free."

"Is that okay for an heir?"

"It's embarrassing to say, but my son needs to go through some hardship. Your Archi Kingdom is newly established and short on staff. It's good for King Archi to gain excellent personnel, and it's good for me to make my son into a good person. Please take good care of him. Huh? Huh?"

Seeing Dejean speak in a subtle tone, Leo said,

"But if he doesn't want to, there's nothing we can do."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I already asked Hark senior to scout, but he absolutely refused."

"…"

At those words, Dejean smiled faintly.

Then he approached the wall, took down a sword hanging on it, and said,

"I'll persuade him well by tomorrow and send him to the Archi Kingdom, so please talk nicely to Sir Sys."

"Yes."

"Very good. Please take good care of my foolish son."

Dejean personally opened the door for Leo.

Then he came out of the office with Leo and immediately ran off somewhere.

Elena, who was waiting in the first-floor lobby, looked puzzled.

"What did you talk about with Mr. Dejean?"

"Career counseling."

"Career counseling?"

Before the words were even finished, the desperate scream of someone was heard.

Hearing that scream, Leo said with a smile,

"He asked me to make him into a good person, like you."

At those words, Elena stomped on Leo's foot.